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Vibrant lantern-lit street market at night in Chongqing, China
Chongqing · night market

Guide № 01 · China

China Travel Checklist for First-Time Visitors

Last updated 2026-05-25

A pre-arrival checklist for travelers visiting China for the first time. It covers what to set up at home, what to test on Day 1, and the few places people consistently get tripped up.

01

Before you fly

  • Alipay
  • WeChat Pay
  • eSIM
  • VPN

Three things are dramatically easier to do on home WiFi than after you land: linking a foreign card to Alipay and WeChat Pay, buying and installing an eSIM, and setting up a VPN.

VPN apps are not downloadable inside China. The App Store hides them on a Chinese account and Google Play is blocked. If you want one, install it before departure.

  • Confirm visa or visa-free / 240-hour transit eligibility on the official Chinese embassy site for your passport country.
  • Install Alipay and WeChat. Add a Visa or Mastercard to each.
  • Buy an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily) — install at home, activate when you land.
  • Install Apple Maps or Amap, DiDi, Google Translate (with offline Chinese), Pleco.
  • Screenshot your hotel name and address in Chinese characters.
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02

Payments — Alipay and WeChat Pay

  • Alipay
  • WeChat Pay
  • Convenience store

Cash is almost never used. Even small noodle shops and convenience stores expect a QR scan. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept many foreign Visa and Mastercards directly, with a small foreign-transaction fee.

Verify your card type is currently supported within one to two weeks of departure — support changes occasionally.

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03

Internet — eSIM, VPN, or roaming

  • eSIM
  • VPN
  • Amap
  • Apple Maps
  • Pleco

Most travelers get the smoothest experience with an international eSIM. It routes your traffic in a way that usually keeps Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Gmail working without a separate VPN.

If you use a local Chinese SIM instead, you'll need a VPN to access Western apps — and the VPN must be installed before arrival.

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Xiao long bao steaming in a bamboo basket
Day 1 · the easy first meal
04

Airport to hotel — never accept rides from people who approach you

  • DiDi
Inside the arrivals hall, anyone offering you a ride is a tout. They charge three to five times the metered fare and sometimes refuse to drop you at the hotel. Walk past them to the official taxi queue outside, or use DiDi.
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05

Your first 24 hours

  • Convenience store
  • Alipay

Treat Day 1 as a soft landing. Don't try to be adventurous with food, don't try to fit three sights, and test that your payments and connectivity work on something cheap before you depend on them for something important.

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Frequently asked

Quick answers

Do I need a Chinese SIM card?
Most short-trip travelers don't. An international eSIM is simpler, keeps Western apps working without a VPN, and avoids the registration friction of a local SIM.
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Can I use my foreign credit card directly?
At airports, large hotels, and many international-facing merchants, yes. For taxis, smaller shops, restaurants, and everyday transactions, you'll need Alipay or WeChat Pay — both can now use your foreign card.
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Is Google blocked in China?
Yes, along with WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Gmail. The easiest workaround for travelers is an eSIM that routes traffic outside China. A VPN works too, but it must be installed before arrival.
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How much cash should I bring?
Around 500 RMB is usually plenty — a backup for the rare moment a foreign-card payment fails, or a place that doesn't accept cards at all.
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Visa rules, payment-app behavior, and connectivity change. Verify time-sensitive items with official sources before departure.